Answers

Has it completely snapped off? if so then tidy whats remaining with a clean cut, it should reshoot from whats left, Photinia are normally quite good at responding if hard pruning is carried out so i think you should be ok, could you let us know later in the spring/early summer how it is going, thanks julien.

Examine the break first. If it is a ragged, splintered break then Juliens advice is good. If the break is smoother and the edges slightly rounded then the tree has probably been grafted and you are just left with the rootstock which will grow on as a more common Photinia. This is not the best time of year for cuttings but I would take a few anyway - you have nothing to lose.

Many thanks to Bulbaholic & Julien, but unfortunately it had completely snapped off but have taken your advice and neaten the break and live in hope it will shoot again although it will take a few years to get to the same size.

In April my neighbour's Photinia looked completely dead. We took a saw to it and left two stumps about 6 inches from the ground with a view to removing the roots when more convienent. It has too our amazement put on some lovely growth and looks great!

Indeed NP!!! Tree stakes need to be loosely applied, diagonally to the stem, in the first place, to allow the tree to move, provide support initially and to develop strength in their stem, and then removed completely before the tree and its roots become reliant on the stake rather than its own stem for support - usually one or two years at the most. As you say ... the stake may have been the problem if the photinia had no strength of its own!!